The Hurricanes are about to test whether there's such thing as too much playoff rest

"With two straight 4-0 series sweeps over the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers, the Hurricanes have been waiting for their inevitable Eastern Conference Finals opponent since Saturday, May 9. Once that series begins on Thursday, May 21, against the Game 7 victor between the Montreal Canadiens or Buffalo Sabres, the Hurricanes will have been off for a historic 11 days, per The Athletic's Jame Mirtle."

"The 11 days between games is a new modern record for playoff rest, topped only by the 1919 Canadiens, who had 12 days off before that season's Stanley Cup Final. The only recent comparables are the 10 days off that the Boston Bruins had in 2019 and the 10 days off that the Anaheim Ducks had in 2003."

"While the time off could be seen as a good thing for an NHL team beleaguered by a long regular season and two playoff series, past precedent suggests that the rust that can build up for players may affect their chances of winning a championship. The 2019 Bruins and 2003 Ducks lost the next series after their long rests, both of which were those years' Stanley Cup Finals."

"In 1919, the Canadiens didn't technically lose that year's Cup Final, but their series against the Seattle Metropolitans was halted after five games due to an outbreak of Spanish flu. Neither team was awarded the Stanley Cup, the only time that has ever occurred for non-lockout-related reasons."

The Carolina Hurricanes swept the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers in consecutive 4-0 series, creating a long wait for their next opponent. Their Eastern Conference Finals begin on Thursday, May 21, against the Game 7 winner between the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres. The Hurricanes will have been off for 11 days, a modern NHL record for playoff rest. Only the 1919 Canadiens had a longer break with 12 days before the Stanley Cup Final. Recent examples include 10-day rests by the 2019 Boston Bruins and the 2003 Anaheim Ducks. Teams with long rests have sometimes struggled afterward, with both the Bruins and Ducks losing the next series. In 1919, the Stanley Cup was not awarded due to a Spanish flu outbreak that halted the final series.

Read at RMNB